(1898) Token "Remember the Maine" Pierced

Coin Details

Description

This pierced "Remember the Maine" token from circa 1898 is a variant of the Spanish-American War commemorative tokens produced after the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. The piercing — a hole punched through the token for suspension on a chain, ribbon, or pin — indicates this piece was intended to be worn as a patriotic badge rather than carried in a pocket. Many "Remember the Maine" tokens were produced with holes or loops specifically for wearing, transforming them from pocket pieces into visible declarations of patriotic sentiment during the war fever of 1898. The pierced format was particularly popular during the brief Spanish-American War period (April-August 1898), when citizens sought visible ways to display their support for the war effort. Wearing a "Remember the Maine" token was the 1898 equivalent of displaying a flag pin, and the public's appetite for such displays was intense. The pierced version represents a different collecting variant from the unpierced brass token, as the hole was an intentional manufacturing feature rather than post-strike damage. Both the pierced and unpierced versions document the extraordinary public passion that transformed a naval tragedy into a national cause and launched the United States onto the world stage as an imperial power.

Rarity Notes

Pierced "Remember the Maine" tokens are moderately common but less frequently encountered in collectible condition than unpierced versions, as the wearing use subjected them to more handling and environmental damage.

Cross References

PCGS #948581; USS Maine commemorative; Spanish-American War 1898; see also PCGS #761933 (brass, unpierced)